Joel Cross

1934 - 2025

Joel Cross

December 29, 1934 - April 20, 2025

Creedmoor, North Carolina - Joel Allen Cross, 90, of Creedmoor passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, following several months of declining health. He shared moments of infectious laughter with everyone he met until the end. Joel loved family and often expressed his pride and appreciation for them. He was preceded in death by his parents, Allen and Thelma Cross. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, June; his daughter, Dede [husband, Harold]; his son, Allen [wife, Beth]; grandchildren, Kate and John; sister, Andrea; brother, Wayne [wife, Peggy] and other special relatives too many to name.

From his time at UNC where he was class vice president, Joel began what would be a major theme in his life-service. As a young man, he joined and took leadership positions in the Lion's Club, the Jaycees, and the Masons, where he achieved the 32nd degree, building life-long connections which he valued greatly. In 1998, he was awarded the Creedmoor Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

Joel had a love of mechanics and fixing things. Sharing this passion with others began with selling car parts in his father's store and continued as service manager of Edwards Chevrolet dealership. Others saw his potential to explain complex topics and connect with others and asked him to fill the auto mechanics teaching position at Webb High School. Reluctant at first, Joel took the job and found a new passion. He continued to teach auto mechanics until he retired at South Granville High School. Many of his students became mechanics in Granville County. He also served in the National Guard, where he repaired military vehicles of all types until his retirement.

Joel found many other ways to impact his beloved Creedmoor and Granville County communities. He held positions on the Granville Hospital and Vance Granville Health Boards, and the Farmers Mutual Insurance Board, where he also worked as a salesman. He believed in the importance of the health and safety of all, but his passion was truly in direct interaction with his community. He was a member of the Creedmoor Volunteer Fire Department for many years, serving as Assistant Chief for some of that time. As the surrounding towns and cities grew, Joel was committed to fostering the thoughtful growth of Creedmoor. As a city commissioner and mayor pro tem, he worked with other officials to expand water and sewer services to surrounding communities.

Joel was never too busy to exercise his faith and share in the spiritual journey of others. He was a member of Creedmoor United Methodist Church, and then in his later years, Bullocks United Methodist Church, where he could be found singing hymns every Sunday while his wife, June, played the piano. He fulfilled a dream of his youth by becoming a Methodist lay minister, sharing his patient and giving leadership after he retired. Joel also taught men's Sunday school and enjoyed all functions at the church from worship to cooking Brunswick Stews and frying fish.

Joel will be remembered most by his family for the time he spent at home with his feet up in his recliner. He was content peering out of the window to see which birds found his bird feeders, with a cat in his lap or a dog at his feet. He loved going somewhere in his truck and spending time in the shop "making sawdust." He also loved activities with his grandchildren, jigsaw puzzles, shagging to beach music, and picking up pinecones and sweet gum balls.

The family would like to thank the many wonderful staff at Granville Medical Center, Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center, Duke Health, Hillcrest Convalescent Center, Brookdale Assisted Living, and Duke Hospice for their support and care of Joel over the last nine months.

Visitation will be held in Creedmoor at Sossamon Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00pm on Tuesday April 22, 2025. Funeral services will be held at Bullocks United Methodist Church on Wednesday April 23rd at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Ray Gooch will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Bullocks United Methodist Church, 2682 US-15, Creedmoor, NC 27522.

Arrangements are by Sossamon Funeral Home of Creedmoor. Online condolences may be made at www.sossamonfuneralhome.com.